Transmission power control for an uplink control channel

ABSTRACT

A base station indicates, to a user equipment (UE) configured for operation with carrier aggregation, a resource for a transmission of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format that conveys acknowledgement information from the UE, and the UE determines the resource and a transmission power for the PUCCH format.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/089,314 entitled TRANSMISSION POWER CONTROL FORAN UPLINK CONTROL CHANNEL and filed Apr. 1, 2016, which claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/143,603 filed Apr. 6,2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/172,946 filed Jun. 9,2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/191,309 filed Jul.10, 2015. The content of the above-identified patent documents is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to wireless communicationsand, more specifically, to determining a power and a resource for atransmission of an uplink control channel in carrier aggregationoperation.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication has been one of the most successful innovationsin modern history. Recently, the number of subscribers to wirelesscommunication services exceeded five billion and continues to growquickly. The demand of wireless data traffic is rapidly increasing dueto the growing popularity among consumers and businesses of smart phonesand other mobile data devices, such as tablets, “note pad” computers,net books, eBook readers, and machine type of devices. In order to meetthe high growth in mobile data traffic and support new applications anddeployments, improvements in radio interface efficiency and coverage isof paramount importance.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for determining aresource and a power for a PUCCH format transmission.

In a first embodiment, a UE includes a transmitter. The transmitterconfigured to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) offormat F in a subframe i on cell c over a number of M_(PUCCH,c)(i)resource blocks (RBs). The PUCCH conveys a number of O_(UCI) binaryelements (bits) that result from appending a number of O_(CRC) cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits to a number of O_(UCI,0) uplink controlinformation (UCI) bits. The O_(UCI) bits are encoded and mapped toN_(RE) resource elements of the PUCCH. The PUCCH transmission powerP_(PUCCH,c)(i) depends on a ratio of O_(UCI) over N_(RE).

In a second embodiment, a UE includes a controller, a cyclic redundancycheck (CRC) generator, a first encoder, a processor, and a transmitter.The controller is configured to provide a number O_(UCI,0) of uplinkcontrol information (UCI) binary elements (bits) to a cyclic redundancycheck (CRC) generator when O_(UCI,0) is larger than a predeterminedvalue. The CRC generator is configured to compute a number of O_(CRC)CRC bits for the number of O_(UCI,0) UCI bits and append the O_(CRC) CRCbits to the O_(UCI,0) UCI bits to result O_(UCI)=O_(UCI,0)+O_(CRC) bits.The first encoder is configured to encode the O_(UCI) bits. Theprocessor is configured to determine a transmission power P_(PUCCH,c)(i)for a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) of first format F thatconveys the encoded O_(UCI) bits in a subframe i on a cell c. Thetransmitter is configured to transmit the PUCCH of first format F in asubframe i on cell c over a number M_(PUCCH,c)(i) of resource blocks(RBs) with power P_(PUCCH,c)(i) that is a function of a ratio of O_(UCI)over a number N_(RE) of resource elements used for the transmission ofthe encoded O_(UCI) bits.

In a third embodiment, a base station includes a transmitter and areceiver. The transmitter is configured to transmit first downlinkcontrol information (DCI) formats in a first subframe (SF) and secondDCI formats in a second SF after the first SF. The first DCI formats andthe second DCI formats trigger acknowledgement information in a physicaluplink control channel (PUCCH) having a format. All first DCI formats,except one DCI format, include same information for a first resource fora reception of a first PUCCH format. All second DCI formats include sameinformation for a second resource for a reception of a second PUCCHformat that is different than the first PUCCH format. The receiver isconfigured to receive the second PUCCH format in the second resource.

In a fourth embodiment, a UE includes a receiver and a transmitter. Thereceiver configured to receive first downlink control information (DCI)formats in a first subframe (SF) and second DCI formats in a second SFafter the first SF. The first DCI formats and the second DCI formatstrigger acknowledgement information in a physical uplink control channel(PUCCH) having a format. All first DCI formats, except one DCI format,include same information for a first resource for a transmission of afirst PUCCH format. All second DCI formats include same information fora second resource for a transmission of a second PUCCH format that isdifferent than the first PUCCH format. The transmitter configured totransmit the second PUCCH format in the second resource.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller may beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understandthat in many if not most instances such definitions apply to prior aswell as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication network accordingto this disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example user equipment (UE) according to thisdisclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example enhanced NodeB (eNB) according to thisdisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example UL SF structure for PUSCH transmission orPUCCH transmission according to this disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example encoding and modulation process for UCIaccording to this disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example demodulation and decoding process for UCIaccording to this disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example UE transmitter for a PUCCH having a sameSF structure as a PUSCH according to this disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example eNB receiver for a PUCCH having a same SFstructure as a PUSCH according to this disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a communication using CA according to thisdisclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a use of a TPC command field in a DCI formatdepending on a number of DCI formats an eNB transmits to a UE accordingto this disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a use a TPC command field in a DCI format accordingto a PUCCH format used by a UE to transmit HARQ-ACK informationaccording to this disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a mechanism for providing a TPC command and an ARIfor a PUCCH transmission conveying HARQ-ACK information according tothis disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates a determination by an eNB and by a UE of a PUCCHresource indicated by an ARI value in a DCI format transmitted in a SFof a bundling window according to this disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a decoding process at an eNB for a TBCC encodedHARQ-ACK information codeword according to this disclosure; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a path selection by a decoder using knowledge ofknown bits in a codeword according to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 15, discussed below, and the various embodiments used todescribe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged wireless communication system.

The following patent documents and standards descriptions are herebyincorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully setforth herein: 3GPP TS 36.211 v12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Physical channels andmodulation” (REF 1); 3GPP TS 36.212 v12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Multiplexing andChannel coding” (REF 2); 3GPP TS 36.213 v12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Physical LayerProcedures” (REF 3); 3GPP TS 36.331 v12.4.0, “E-UTRA, Radio ResourceControl (RRC) Protocol Specification” (REF 4); U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,259,entitled “MULTIPLEXING LARGE PAYLOADS OF CONTROL INFORMATION FROM USEREQUIPMENTS” (REF 5); and a set of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications(U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/143,569 filed Apr. 6, 2015;U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/145,267 filed Apr. 9, 2015;U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/172,306 filed Jun. 8, 2015;and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/144,684 filed Apr.8, 2015) (collectively “REF 6”).

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to determininga power and a resource for a transmission of an uplink control channelin carrier aggregation operation. A wireless communication networkincludes a downlink (DL) that conveys signals from transmission points,such as base stations or enhanced NodeBs (eNBs), to UEs. The wirelesscommunication network also includes an uplink (UL) that conveys signalsfrom UEs to reception points, such as eNBs.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network 100 according to thisdisclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network 100 shown in FIG. 1is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wireless network 100could be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network 100 includes an eNB 101, an eNB102, and an eNB 103. The eNB 101 communicates with the eNB 102 and theeNB 103. The eNB 101 also communicates with at least one InternetProtocol (IP) network 130, such as the Internet, a proprietary IPnetwork, or other data network.

Depending on the network type, other well-known terms may be usedinstead of “eNodeB” or “eNB,” such as “base station” or “access point.”For the sake of convenience, the terms “eNodeB” and “eNB” are used inthis patent document to refer to network infrastructure components thatprovide wireless access to remote terminals. Also, depending on thenetwork type, other well-known terms may be used instead of “userequipment” or “UE,” such as “mobile station,” “subscriber station,”“remote terminal,” “wireless terminal,” or “user device.” A UE may befixed or mobile and may be a cellular phone, a personal computer device,and the like. For the sake of convenience, the terms “user equipment”and “UE” are used in this patent document to refer to remote wirelessequipment that wirelessly accesses an eNB, whether the UE is a mobiledevice (such as a mobile telephone or smart-phone) or is normallyconsidered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vendingmachine).

The eNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of user equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 ofthe eNB 102. The first plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may belocated in a small business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in anenterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); aUE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, whichmay be located in a second residence (R); and a UE 114, which may be amobile device (M) like a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless PDA,or the like. The eNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to thenetwork 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 ofthe eNB 103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE114. In some embodiments, one or more of the eNBs 101-103 maycommunicate with each other and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G, LTE,LTE-A, WiMAX, or other advanced wireless communication techniques.

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with eNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the eNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, various components of the network 100(such as the eNBs 101-103 and/or the UEs 111-116) support the adaptationof communication direction in the network 100, and can provide supportfor DL or UL transmissions in carrier aggregation operation.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network 100,various changes may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network100 could include any number of eNBs and any number of UEs in anysuitable arrangement. Also, the eNB 101 could communicate directly withany number of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband accessto the network 130. Similarly, each eNB 102-103 could communicatedirectly between them or with the network 130 and provide UEs withdirect wireless broadband access to the network 130. Further, the eNB101, 102, and/or 103 could provide access to other or additionalexternal networks, such as external telephone networks or other types ofdata networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example UE 114 according to this disclosure. Theembodiment of the UE 114 shown in FIG. 2 is for illustration only, andthe other UEs in FIG. 1 could have the same or similar configuration.However, UEs come in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 2 doesnot limit the scope of this disclosure to any particular implementationof a UE.

As shown in FIG. 2, the UE 114 includes an antenna 205, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 210, transmit (TX) processing circuitry 215,a microphone 220, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 225. The UE 114also includes a speaker 230, a controller/processor 240, an input/output(I/O) interface (IF) 245, an input 250, a display 255, and a memory 260.The memory 260 includes an operating system (OS) program 261 and one ormore applications 262.

The RF transceiver 210 receives, from the antenna 205, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by an eNB or another UE. The RF transceiver 210down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediatefrequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent tothe RX processing circuitry 225, which generates a processed basebandsignal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignal. The RX processing circuitry 225 transmits the processed basebandsignal to the speaker 230 (such as for voice data) or to thecontroller/processor 240 for further processing (such as for webbrowsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 215 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 220 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 240. The TX processing circuitry 215 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generate aprocessed baseband or IF signal. The RF transceiver 210 receives theoutgoing processed baseband or IF signal from the TX processingcircuitry 215 and up-converts the baseband or IF signal to an RF signalthat is transmitted via the antenna 205.

The controller/processor 240 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices and can execute the OS program 261 stored in thememory 260 in order to control the overall operation of the UE 114. Forexample, the controller/processor 240 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceiver 210, the RX processing circuitry 225, and the TXprocessing circuitry 215 in accordance with well-known principles. Insome embodiments, the controller/processor 240 includes at least onemicroprocessor or microcontroller.

The controller/processor 240 is also capable of executing otherprocesses and programs resident in the memory 260. Thecontroller/processor 240 can move data into or out of the memory 260 asrequired by an executing process. In some embodiments, thecontroller/processor 240 is configured to execute the applications 262based on the OS program 261 or in response to signals received fromeNBs, other UEs, or an operator. The controller/processor 240 is alsocoupled to the I/O interface 245, which provides the UE 114 with theability to connect to other devices such as laptop computers andhandheld computers. The I/O interface 245 is the communication pathbetween these accessories and the controller/processor 240.

The controller/processor 240 is also coupled to the input 250 (e.g.,touchscreen, keypad, etc.) and the display 255. The operator of the UE114 can use the input 250 to enter data into the UE 114. The display 255may be a liquid crystal display or other display capable of renderingtext and/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites. Thedisplay 255 could also represent a touch-screen.

The memory 260 is coupled to the controller/processor 240. Part of thememory 260 could include a control or data signaling memory (RAM), andanother part of the memory 260 could include a Flash memory or otherread-only memory (ROM).

As described in more detail below, the transmit and receive paths of theUE 114 (implemented using the RF transceiver 210, TX processingcircuitry 215, and/or RX processing circuitry 225) support respective DLor UL transmissions in carrier aggregation operation.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of UE 114, various changes maybe made to FIG. 2. For example, various components in FIG. 2 could becombined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components couldbe added according to particular needs. As a particular example, thecontroller/processor 240 could be divided into multiple processors, suchas one or more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphicsprocessing units (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 2 illustrates the UE 114configured as a mobile telephone or smart-phone, UEs could be configuredto operate as other types of mobile or stationary devices. In addition,various components in FIG. 2 could be replicated, such as when differentRF components are used to communicate with the eNBs 101-103 and withother UEs.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example eNB 102 according to this disclosure. Theembodiment of the eNB 102 shown in FIG. 3 is for illustration only, andother eNBs of FIG. 1 could have the same or similar configuration.However, eNBs come in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 3 doesnot limit the scope of this disclosure to any particular implementationof an eNB.

As shown in FIG. 3, the eNB 102 includes multiple antennas 305 a-305 n,multiple RF transceivers 310 a-310 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry315, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 320. The eNB 102 alsoincludes a controller/processor 325, a memory 330, and a backhaul ornetwork interface 335.

The RF transceivers 310 a-310 n receive, from the antennas 305 a-305 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs or other eNBs.The RF transceivers 310 a-310 n down-convert the incoming RF signals togenerate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signals are sent tothe RX processing circuitry 320, which generates processed basebandsignals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignals. The RX processing circuitry 320 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 325 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 325. The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 310 a-310 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 315 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 305 a-305 n.

The controller/processor 325 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the eNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 325 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 310 a-310 n, the RX processing circuitry 320, andthe TX processing circuitry 315 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 325 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. For instance, the controller/processor 325 could support beamforming or directional routing operations in which outgoing signals frommultiple antennas 305 a-305 n are weighted differently to effectivelysteer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any of a wide varietyof other functions could be supported in the eNB 102 by thecontroller/processor 325. In some embodiments, the controller/processor325 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The controller/processor 325 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 330, such as an OS. Thecontroller/processor 325 can move data into or out of the memory 330 asrequired by an executing process.

The controller/processor 325 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 335. The backhaul or network interface 335 allows the eNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The interface 335 could support communications overany suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the eNB102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such asone supporting 5G, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 335 could allow the eNB102 to communicate with other eNBs, such as eNB 103, over a wired orwireless backhaul connection. When the eNB 102 is implemented as anaccess point, the interface 335 could allow the eNB 102 to communicateover a wired or wireless local area network or over a wired or wirelessconnection to a larger network (such as the Internet). The interface 335includes any suitable structure supporting communications over a wiredor wireless connection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver.

The memory 330 is coupled to the controller/processor 325. Part of thememory 330 could include a RAM, and another part of the memory 330 couldinclude a Flash memory or other ROM.

As described in more detail below, the transmit and receive paths of theeNB 102 (implemented using the RF transceivers 310 a-310 n, TXprocessing circuitry 315, and/or RX processing circuitry 320) supportrespective DL or UL transmissions in carrier aggregation operation.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of an eNB 102, various changesmay be made to FIG. 3. For example, the eNB 102 could include any numberof each component shown in FIG. 3. As a particular example, an accesspoint could include a number of interfaces 335, and thecontroller/processor 325 could support routing functions to route databetween different network addresses. As another particular example,while shown as including a single instance of TX processing circuitry315 and a single instance of RX processing circuitry 320, the eNB 102could include multiple instances of each (such as one per RFtransceiver). In some wireless networks, DL signals can include datasignals conveying information content, control signals conveying DLcontrol information (DCI), and reference signals (RS) that are alsoknown as pilot signals. An eNB, such as eNB 102, can transmit one ormore of multiple types of RS, including UE-common RS (CRS), channelstate information RS (CSI-RS), and demodulation RS (DMRS). A CRS can betransmitted over a DL system bandwidth (BW) and can be used by a UE,such as UE 114, to demodulate data or control signals or to performmeasurements. To reduce CRS overhead, eNB 102 can transmit a CSI-RS witha smaller density in the time domain than a CRS (see also REF 1 and REF3). UE 114 can use either a CRS or a CSI-RS to perform measurements anda selection can be based on a transmission mode (TM) UE 114 isconfigured by eNB 102 for physical DL shared channel (PDSCH) reception(see also REF 3). Finally, UE 114 can use a DMRS to demodulate data orcontrol signals. The eNB 102 can transmit data information to UE 114through a PDSCH. The transport channel transferring information from aPDSCH to higher layers is referred to as DL shared channel (DL-SCH). AneNB can transmit DCI to a UE through a DCI format transmission in aphysical DL control channel (PDCCH).

In some wireless networks, UL signals can include data signals conveyinginformation content, control signals conveying UL control information(UCI), and RS. A UE, such as UE 114, can transmit data information orUCI through a respective physical UL shared channel (PUSCH) or aphysical UL control channel (PUCCH) to an eNB, such as eNB 102. Thetransport channel transferring information from a PUSCH to higher layersis referred to as UL shared channel (UL-SCH). When UE 114 simultaneouslytransmits data information and UCI, UE 114 can multiplex both in a PUSCHor simultaneously transmit data information and possibly some UCI in aPUSCH and transmit some or all UCI in a PUCCH. UCI can include hybridautomatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) informationindicating correct or incorrect detection of data transport blocks (TBs)in respective PDSCHs, scheduling request (SR) information indicating toeNB 102 whether UE 114 has data in its buffer, and channel stateinformation (CSI) enabling eNB 102 to select appropriate parameters forPDSCH or PDCCH transmissions to UE 114. HARQ-ACK information can includea positive acknowledgement (ACK) in response to a correct PDCCH or dataTB detection, a negative acknowledgement (NACK) in response to incorrectdata TB detection, and an absence of PDCCH detection (DTX) that can beimplicit or explicit. A DTX can be implicit when UE 114 does nottransmit a HARQ-ACK signal. It is also possible to represent NACK andDTX with a same NACK/DTX state in the HARQ-ACK information (see also REF3).

CSI can include a channel quality indicator (CQI) informing eNB 102 of atransport block size (TBS) having a modulation and coding scheme (MCS)that can be received by UE 114 with a predefined target block error rate(BLER), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) informing eNB 102 how tocombine signals from multiple transmitted antennas in accordance with amultiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission principle, and a rankindicator (RI) indicating a transmission rank for a PDSCH (see also REF3). For example, UE 114 can determine a CQI from asignal-to-interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement while alsoconsidering a configured PDSCH TM and the UE 114 receivercharacteristics. A UE can use a CRS or a CSI-RS transmission from an eNBto determine a CSI (see also REF 3). The eNB 102 can configure UE 114 toperiodically transmit CSI (P-CSI) on a PUCCH or to dynamically transmitaperiodic CSI (A-CSI) on a PUSCH (see also REF 2 and REF 3).

UL RS can include DMRS and sounding RS (SRS). DMRS can be transmittedonly in a BW of a respective PUSCH or PUCCH and eNB 102 can use a DMRSto demodulate information in a PUSCH or PUCCH. SRS can be transmitted byUE 114 in order to provide eNB 102 with a UL CSI (see also REF 2 and REF3).

The eNB 102 can schedule PDSCH transmission to UE 114 or PUSCHtransmission from UE 114 through respective DCI formats conveyed byrespective PDCCHs. DCI formats can also provide other functionalities(see also REF 2).

A transmission time interval (TTI) for DL signaling or for UL signalingis one subframe (SF). For example, a SF duration can be one millisecond(msec). A unit of 10 SFs, indexed from 0 to 9, is referred to as asystem frame. In a time division duplex (TDD) system, a communicationdirection in some SFs is in the DL, and a communication direction insome other SFs is in the UL.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example UL SF structure for PUSCH transmission orPUCCH transmission according to this disclosure. The embodiment of theUL SF structure shown in FIG. 4 is for illustration only. Otherembodiments could be used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

UL signaling can use Discrete Fourier Transform Spread OFDM(DFT-S-OFDM). An UL SF 410 includes two slots. Each slot 420 includesA_(SeNB,1) symbols 430 where UE 114 transmits data information, UCI, orRS including one symbol per slot where UE 114 transmits DMRS 440. Atransmission BW includes frequency resource units that are referred toas resource blocks (RBs). Each RB includes A_(SeNB,2) (virtual)sub-carriers that are referred to as resource elements (REs). Atransmission unit of one RB over one slot is referred to as a physicalRB (PRB) and transmission unit of one RB over one SF is referred to as aPRB pair. UE 114 is assigned M_(PUXCH) RBs for a total of M_(sc)^(PUXCH)=M_(PUXCH)·N_(sc) ^(RB) REs 450 for a PUSCH transmission BW(‘X’=‘S’) or for a PUCCH transmission BW (‘X’=‘C’). A last SF symbol canbe used to multiplex SRS transmissions 460 from one or more UEs. Anumber of UL SF symbols available for data/UCI/DMRS transmission isN_(symb) ^(PUXCH)−2·(N_(symb) ^(UL)−1)−N_(SRS). N_(SRS)=1 when a last SFsymbol supports SRS transmissions from UEs that overlap at leastpartially in BW with a PUXCH transmission BW; otherwise, N_(SRS)=0.Therefore, a number of total REs for a PUXCH transmission M_(sc)^(PUXCH)·N_(symb) ^(PUXCH).

When the structure in FIG. 4 is used to transmit UCI (HARQ-ACK or P-CSI)in a PUCCH, there is no data information included and UCI can be mappedover all REs except for REs used to transmit DMRS or SRS.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example encoding and modulation process for UCIaccording to this disclosure. The embodiment of the encoding processshown in FIG. 5 is for illustration only. Other embodiments could beused without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Upon determining that a number O_(UCI,0) of UCI bits is larger than apredetermined value, a UE 114 controller (not shown) provides the UCIbits 510 to a CRC generator 520 that computes a CRC for the O_(UCI,0)UCI bits and appends O_(CRC) CRC bits, such as 8 CRC bits, to theO_(UCI,0) UCI bits to result O_(UCI) UCI and CRC bits 530. An encoder540, such as a tail biting convolutional code (TBCC), encodes the outputof O_(UCI) bits. A rate matcher 550 performs rate matching to allocatedresources, followed by a scrambler 560 to perform scrambling, amodulator 570 to modulate the encoded bits, for example using QPSK, anRE mapper 580, and finally a transmitter for a transmission of a controlsignal 590.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example demodulation and decoding process for UCIaccording to this disclosure. The embodiment of the decoding processshown in FIG. 6 is for illustration only. Other embodiments could beused without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The eNB 102 receives a control signal 610 that is provided to a REdemapper 620 to perform RE demapping, a demodulator 630 to performdemodulation for a corresponding modulation scheme, a descrambler 640 toperform descrambling, a rate matcher 650 to perform rate matching, and adecoder 660, such as a TBCC decoder, to perform decoding and provideO_(UCI) UCI and CRC bits. A CRC extraction unit 670 separates O_(UCI,0)UCI bits 680 and O_(CRC) CRC bits 685, and a CRC checking unit 690computes a CRC check. When the CRC check passes (CRC checksum is zero),eNB 102 determines that the UCI is valid.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example UE transmitter for a PUCCH having a sameSF structure as a PUSCH according to this disclosure. The embodiment ofthe transmitter shown in FIG. 7 is for illustration only. Otherembodiments could be used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

UCI bits 710 from UE 114, such as O_(P-CSI) P-CSI information bits, whenany, and O_(HARQ-ACK) HARQ-ACK information bits, when any, but also a SRbit in a SF configured to UE 114 for SR transmission (not shown), arejointly encoded either by a first encoder 720, for example usingtail-biting convolutional coding (TBCC) or turbo coding (TC) and cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits are included in each encoded codeword (seealso REF 2) or by a second encoder 725, for example using Reed-Muller(RM) coding. An encoder selection is by a controller (e.g.,controller/processor 240 of FIG. 2) where, for example, the controllerselects the TBCC encoder when a HARQ-ACK payload is larger than apredetermined value, such as 22 bits, and the controller selects the RMencoder when a HARQ-ACK payload is not larger than a predeterminedvalue. Encoded bits are subsequently modulated by modulator 730. Adiscrete Fourier transform (DFT) is obtained by DFT unit 740, REs 750corresponding to a PUCCH transmission BW are selected by selector 755,an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is performed by IFFT unit 760,an output is filtered and by filter 770, a processor applies a poweraccording to a power control procedure to power amplifier (PA) 780, anda transmitted 790 transmits a signal. Due to the DFT mapping, the REscan be viewed as virtual REs but are referred to as REs for simplicity.For brevity, additional transmitter circuitry such as digital-to-analogconverter, filters, amplifiers, and transmitter antennas are omitted.

A UE transmitter block diagram for data in a PUSCH can be obtained as inFIG. 7 by replacing HARQ-ACK information and CSI with data information.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example eNB receiver for a PUCCH having a same SFstructure as a PUSCH according to this disclosure. The embodiment of thereceiver shown in FIG. 8 is for illustration only. Other embodimentscould be used without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

A received signal 810 is filtered by filter 820, a fast Fouriertransform (FFT) is applied by FFT unit 830, a selector unit 840 selectsREs 850 used by a transmitter, an inverse DFT (IDFT) unit applies anIDFT 860, a demodulator 870 demodulates the IDFT output using a channelestimate provided by a channel estimator (not shown), and a controller(e.g., controller/processor 240 of FIG. 2) selects a first decoder 880,for example using tail-biting convolutional decoding or turbo decodingand CRC bits are extracted from each decoded codeword, or a seconddecoder 885, for example using RM decoding. For example, the controllerselects the TBCC decoder when an expected HARQ-ACK payload is largerthan a predetermined value, such as 22 bits, and the controller selectsthe RM decoder when an expected HARQ-ACK payload is not larger than apredetermined value. UCI bits 890 are obtained by an output of eitherthe first decoder or the second decoder. Additional receiver circuitrysuch as an analog-to-digital converter, filters, and channel estimator,are not shown for brevity.

An eNB receiver block diagram for data in a PUSCH can be obtained as inFIG. 8 by replacing HARQ-ACK information and CSI with data information.

In a TDD communication system, a communication direction in some SFs isin the DL, and a communication direction in some other SFs is in the UL.TABLE 1 lists indicative UL/DL configurations over a period of 10 SFsthat is also referred to as frame period. “D” denotes a DL SF, “U”denotes an UL SF, and “S” denotes a special SF that includes a DLtransmission field referred to as DwPTS, a guard period (GP), and a ULtransmission field referred to as UpPTS. Several combinations exist fora duration of each field in a special SF subject to the condition thatthe total duration is one SF (see also REF 1).

TABLE 1 TDD UL/DL configurations DL-to-UL TDD UL-DL Switch- Con- pointSF number figuration periodicity 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 msec D S U U UD S U U U 1 5 msec D S U U D D S U U D 2 5 msec D S U D D D S U D D 3 10msec  D S U U U D D D D D 4 10 msec  D S U U D D D D D D 5 10 msec  D SU D D D D D D D 6 5 msec D S U U U D S U U D

In a TDD system, a HARQ-ACK signal transmission from UE 114 in responseto PDSCH receptions in multiple DL SFs can be transmitted in a same ULSF. A number M_(W) of DL SFs having associated HARQ-ACK signaltransmissions from UE 114 in a same UL SF is referred to as a DLassociation set or as a bundling window of size M_(W). A DL DCI formatincludes a DL assignment index (DAI) field of two binary elements (bits)that provides a counter indicating a number of DL DCI formats, modulo 4,transmitted to UE 114 in a bundling window up to the SF of the DL DCIformat detection. TABLE 2 indicates DL SFs n−k, where k ∈ K, that UE 114transmits an associated HARQ-ACK signal in UL SF n. These DL SFsrepresent a bundling window for a respective UL SF.

TABLE 2 Downlink association set index K: {k₀, k₁, L · k_(M−1)} TDDUL/DL SF n Configuration 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 — — 6 — 4 — — 6 — 4 1 — —7, 6 4 — — — 7, 6 4 — 2 — — 8, 7, 4, 6 — — — — 8, 7, 4, 6 — — 3 — — 7,6, 11 6, 5 5, 4 — — — — — 4 — — 12, 8, 7, 11 6, 5, 4, 7 — — — — — — 5 —— 13, 12, 9, 8, 7, 5, — — — — — — — 4, 11, 6 6 — — 7 7 5 — — 7 7 —

A transmission power for a PUSCH is determined so that a PUSCHtransmission from UE 114 is received with a desired SINR at eNB 102while controlling a respective interference to neighboring cells therebyachieving a BLER target for data TBs in the PUSCH and ensuring propernetwork operation. UL power control (PC) includes open-loop PC (OLPC)with cell-specific and UE-specific parameters and closed-loop PC (CLPC)corrections provided to a UE by an eNB through transmission PC (TPC)commands. When a PUSCH transmission is scheduled by a PDCCH, a TPCcommand is included in a respective DCI format (see also REF 2). TPCcommands can also be provided by a separate PDCCH conveying a DCI format3 or a DCI format 3A, for brevity jointly referred to as DCI format3/3A, providing TPC commands to a group of UEs (see also REF 2). A DCIformat includes cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits and UE 114 identifiesa DCI format type from a respective radio network temporary identifier(RNTI) used to scramble the CRC bits. For DCI format 3/3A, a RNTI is aTPC-RNTI that UE 114 is configured by eNB 102 through higher layersignaling, such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling. For a DCIformat scheduling a PUSCH transmission from UE 114 or a PDSCHtransmission to UE 114, a RNTI is a Cell RNTI (C-RNTI). Additional RNTItypes also exist (see also REF 2).

UE 114 can derive a PUSCH transmission power P_(PUSCH,c)(i), in decibelsper milliwatt (dBm), in cell c and SF i as in Equation (1). Forsimplicity, it is assumed that UE 114 does not transmit both PUSCH andPUCCH in a same SF (see also REF 3).

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{{PUSCH},c}(i)} = {\min{\begin{Bmatrix}{{P_{{CMAX},c}(i)},} \\{{10{\log_{10}\left( {M_{{PUSCH},c}(i)} \right)}} + {P_{{O\;\_\;{PUSCH}},c}(j)} + {{\alpha_{c}(j)} \cdot}} \\{{PL}_{c} + {\Delta_{{TF},c}(i)} + {f_{c}(i)}}\end{Bmatrix}\lbrack{dBm}\rbrack}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$where,

-   -   P_(CMAX,c)(i) is a configured UE 114 transmission power in cell        c and SF i (see also REF 3).    -   M_(PUSCH,c)(i) is a PUSCH transmission BW in RBs in cell c and        SF i.    -   P_(O_PUSCH,c)(j) controls a mean received SINR at eNB 102 in        cell c and is the sum of a cell-specific component        P_(O_NOMINAL_PUSCH,c)(j) and a UE-specific component        P_(O_UE_PUSCH,c)(j) provided to UE 114 by eNB 102 through higher        layer signaling. For semi-persistently scheduled (SPS) PUSCH        (re)transmissions, j=0. For dynamically scheduled PUSCH        (re)transmissions, j=1.    -   PL_(c) is a path loss (PL) estimate measured by UE 114 for cell        c (see also REF 3). For example, UE 114 can measure a path loss        by using typical implementations to measure a reference signal        received power (RSRP) and then compare the RSRP to a known RS        transmission power than is informed to UE 114 from eNB 102 by        higher layers, for example in a SIB.    -   For j=0 or j=1, α_(c)(j)={0,0.4,0.5,0.60.7,0.8,0.9,1} is        configured to UE 114 by eNB 102 through higher layer signaling.        Fractional UL PC is obtained for α_(c)(j)<1 as a PL is not fully        compensated.    -   Δ_(TF,c)(i) is either equal to 0 or is determined by a spectral        efficiency of a PUSCH transmission as Δ_(TF,c)(i)=10 log₁₀        ((2^(BPRE·K) ^(s) −1)·β_(offset) ^(PUSCH)) where, K_(s) is        configured to UE 114 by higher layer signaling as either K_(s)=0        or K_(s)=1.25 and    -   BPRE=O_(CQI)/N_(RE) for A-CSI sent via PUSCH without UL-SCH data        and

$\sum\limits_{r = 0}^{C - 1}{K_{r}/N_{RE}}$

-   -   for other cases        -   where C is a number of code blocks, K_(r) is a size for code            block r, O_(CQI) is a number of CQI/PMI bits including CRC            bits and N_(RE) is a number of REs determined as            N_(RE)=M_(sc) ^(PUSCH-initial)·N_(symb) ^(PUSCH-initial),            where C, K_(r), M_(sc) ^(PUSCH-initial) and N_(symb)            ^(PUSCH-initial) are defined in REF 2.    -   β_(offset) ^(PUSCH)=β_(offset) ^(CQI) (see also REF 2) for A-CSI        sent via PUSCH without UL-SCH data and 1 for other cases.    -   f_(c)(i)=f_(c)(i−1)+δ_(PUSCH,c)(i−K_(PUSCH)) when accumulative        CLPC is used, and f_(c)(i)=δ_(PUSCH,c)(i−K_(PUSCH)) when        absolute CLPC is used where δ_(PUSCH,c)(i−K_(PUSCH)) is a TPC        command included in a DCI format scheduling a PUSCH or included        in a DCI format 3/3A. K_(PUSCH) is derived from a timeline        between a SF of a PDCCH transmission scheduling a PUSCH and a SF        of a respective PUSCH transmission (see also REF 3).

A PUCCH transmission power P_(PUCCH,c)(j) from UE 114 in cell c and SF iis given by Equation 2 (see also REF 3):

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{{PUCCH},c}(i)} = {\min{\begin{Bmatrix}{{P_{{CMAX},c}(i)},} \\{{P_{{O\;\_\;{PUCCH}},c}(j)} + {PL}_{c} + {h\left( {n_{CQI},n_{HARQ},n_{SR}} \right)} +} \\{{\Delta_{F\;\_\;{PUCCH}}(F)} + {\Delta_{TxD}\left( F^{\prime} \right)} + {g(i)}}\end{Bmatrix}\lbrack{dBm}\rbrack}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$where,

-   -   P_(CMAX,c)(i) is a configured UE 114 transmission power in cell        c and SF i (see also REF 3).    -   P_(O_PUCCH,c) is a sum of a cell-specific parameter        P_(O_NOMINAL_PUCCH,c) and a UE-specific parameter        P_(O_UE_PUCCH,c) that are provided to UE 114 by higher layer        signaling.    -   PL_(c) is a path loss (PL) estimate measured by UE 114 for cell        c (see also REF 3).    -   h(⋅) is a function with values depending on a format used for        the PUCCH transmission, such as a PUCCH format 2 or a PUCCH        format 3, and on whether HARQ-ACK, SR, or CSI is transmitted        (see also REF 3).    -   Δ_(F_PUCCH)(F) is provided to UE 114 by higher layers and its        value depends on a respective PUCCH format (F) to offset a        transmission power relative to PUCCH format 1a (see also REF 3).    -   Δ_(TxD)(F′) is non-zero when a PUCCH format F′ is transmitted        from two or more antenna ports (otherwise, when PUCCH format F′        is transmitted from one antenna port, Δ_(TxD)(F′) is zero).    -   g(i)=g(i−1)+δ_(PUCCH)(i) is a function accumulating a TPC        command δ_(PUCCH)(i) in a DCI format 3/3A or in a DCI format        scheduling PDSCH reception and g(0) is a value after reset of        accumulation.

One mechanism towards satisfying a demand for increased network capacityand data rates is network densification. This is realized by deployingsmall cells in order to increase a number of network nodes and theirproximity to UEs and provide cell splitting gains. As a number of smallcells increases and deployments of small cells become dense, a handoverfrequency and a handover failure rate can also significantly increase.By maintaining a RRC connection to the macro-cell, communication withthe small cell can be optimized as control-place (C-place)functionalities such as mobility management, paging, and systeminformation updates can be provided only by the macro-cell while asmall-cell can be dedicated for user-data plane (U-plane)communications. When a latency of a backhaul link between network nodes(cells) is practically zero, Carrier Aggregation (CA) can be used as inREF 3 and scheduling decisions can be made by a same eNB 102 andconveyed to each network node. Moreover, UCI from UE 114 can be receivedat any network node, except possibly for nodes using unlicensedspectrum, and conveyed to eNB 102 to facilitate a proper schedulingdecision for UE 114.

FIG. 9 illustrates a communication using CA according to thisdisclosure.

UE 114 910, communicates with a first cell 920 corresponding to amacro-cell using a first carrier frequency f1 930 and with a second cell940 corresponding to a small cell over carrier frequency f2 950. Thefirst carrier frequency can correspond to a licensed frequency band andthe second carrier frequency can correspond to an unlicensed frequencybad. The first cell and the second cell are controlled by eNB 102 andare connected over a backhaul that introduces negligible latency.

When UE 114 is configured with CA operation with up to 5 DL cells,HARQ-ACK transmission on a PUCCH typically uses a PUCCH format 3 (seealso REF 1 and REF 3). In a FDD system, a method for UE 114 to obtain aTPC command to adjust a power of a PUCCH format 3 transmission is from aTPC command field in a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH transmission on aprimary cell (see also REF 2 and REF 3). A method for UE 114 todetermine a resource to transmit the PUCCH format 3 is from a TPCcommand field in a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH transmission on asecondary cell (see also REF 3). Then, the TPC command field provides anacknowledgement resource indication (ARI) or, equivalently, a PUCCHresource index for one of four PUCCH resources configured to UE 114 byhigher layers (see also REF 3). For example, for a TPC command field of2 bits and UE 114 configured with 4 resources for PUCCH format 3transmission, an ARI can indicate one of the 4 resources (see also REF3).

For a TDD system, UE 114 uses a PUCCH format 3 resource determined froma TPC command field in a DCI format with DAI value greater than ‘1’ orwith DAI value equal to ‘1’ that is not the first DCI format that UE 114detects within a bundling window. UE 114 assumes that a same PUCCHresource index value is transmitted in all DCI formats used to determinethe PUCCH resource index value for a bundling window (see also REF 3). Afunctionality of a TPC command field in a DCI format with DAI valueequal to ‘1’ that is the first DCI format UE 114 detects in a bundlingwindow remains unchanged and provides a TPC command value for UE 114 toadjust a transmission power for the PUCCH format 3. In this manner, aDAI field functions both as a counter of DL DCI formats transmitted toUE 114 within a bundling window and as an indicator whether a TPCcommand field in a DCI format provides a TPC command value or whether aTPC command field in a DCI format provides an indicator to one PUCCHresource from a set of PUCCH resources configured to UE 114 (ARI).

When a DCI format is conveyed by an EPDCCH, the DCI format also includesa HARQ-ACK resource offset (HRO) field that either indicates a PUCCHresource for a PUCCH format 1a/1b transmission when the DCI formatschedules PDSCH on a primary cell or is set to zero when the DCI formatschedules PDSCH on a secondary cell (see also REF 2 and REF 3).Therefore, regardless of whether a DCI format scheduling a PDSCHtransmission is conveyed by a PDCCH or an EPDCCH, UE 114 cannot obtain aTPC command to transmit associated HARQ-ACK information in a PUCCH whenUE 114 does not detect a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH transmission on aprimary cell.

Typical CA operation supports up to 5 DL cells each with a maximum of 20MHz BW and, for UL/DL configuration 5 in TDD systems, for up to 2 DLcells (see also REF 3). This limitation on the number of DL cells thatUE 114 can support limits DL data rates due to a respective limitationin a total DL BW. With an availability of unlicensed spectrum where many20 MHz BW carriers can exist, a number of cells that can be configuredto UE 114 can become significantly larger than 5. Therefore, extendingsupport for CA beyond 5 DL cells can allow for more efficientutilization of available spectrum and improve DL data rates and serviceexperience for UE 114. A consequence from increasing a number of DLcells relates to a need to support larger UCI payloads. A new PUCCHformat that can accommodate large HARQ-ACK payloads or, in general,large UCI payloads can have a PUSCH-based structure (see also REF 5) anduse TBCC or TC to encode UCI. Achieving a desired detection reliabilityof a HARQ-ACK codeword or, in general, of a UCI codeword can become moredifficult as a respective payload increases and it can be beneficial toimprove transmission power control for a respective PUCCH format andimprove a detection performance for a TBCC decoder or a TC decoder.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide mechanisms to increase aprobability that a UE obtains TPC commands for transmission of a PUCCHformat conveying HARQ-ACK information. Embodiments of this disclosurealso provide mechanisms for a base station to indicate and for a UE todetermine a resource for a PUCCH format transmission. Embodiments ofthis disclosure additionally provide mechanisms for a UE to determine apower for a PUCCH transmission. Embodiments of this disclosureadditionally provide mechanisms for a base station to improve adetection reliability of a TBCC encoded HARQ-ACK codeword by utilizingknown values in the HARQ-ACK codeword.

In the following, for brevity, a SPS PDSCH transmission or a DCI formatindicating SPS PDSCH release is not explicitly mentioned; UE 114 isalways assumed to include HARQ-ACK information for SPS PDSCHtransmission or for a DCI format indicating SPS PDSCH release (see alsoREF 3). Further, unless explicitly otherwise mentioned, a DCI format isassumed to schedule a PDSCH transmission (or SPS PDSCH release) in arespective cell. Further, UE 114 is configured a group of cells forpossible receptions of respective PDSCH transmissions for operation withcarrier aggregation. Each cell in the group of cells is identified by aUE-specific cell index that eNB 102 can inform UE 114 through higherlayer signaling. UE 114 is configured to transmit HARQ-ACK informationin a same PUCCH in response to PDSCH receptions in any cells from thegroup of cells. For example, UE 114 can be configured with a group of Ccells and respective cell indexes 0, 1, . . . , C−1.

When UE 114 is configured a parameter by eNB 102, unless otherwisenoted, the configuration is by higher layer signaling, such as RRCsignaling, while when a parameter is dynamically indicated to UE 114 byeNB 102, the indication is by physical layer signaling such as by a DCIformat transmitted in a PDCCH or EPDCCH. UE 114 can be configured withmore than one UL cell for PUCCH transmission, such as for example two ULcells. PUCCH transmission in a first UL cell is associated with a firstgroup of DL cells and PUCCH transmission in a second UL cell isassociated with a second group of DL cells. UE 114 is assumed totransmit a PUCCH on a primary cell. UE 114 can also be configured by eNB102 to transmit PUCCH on a primary secondary cell. In such case, UE 114transmits PUCCH on the primary for UCI corresponding to a first group ofDL cells (CG1) and transmits PUCCH on the primary secondary cell for UCIcorresponding to a second group of DL cells (CG2). Unless otherwiseexplicitly noted, the descriptions in this disclosure are with respectto one group of DL cells and can be replicated for another group of DLcells.

Transmission Power Control Commands

A first embodiment of this disclosure considers power adjustments andresource determination for transmission of HARQ-ACK information in aPUCCH. Unless explicitly otherwise mentioned, a DCI format is assumed toschedule a PDSCH transmission in a respective cell. For brevity, a SPSPDSCH transmission or a DCI format indicating SPS PDSCH release is notexplicitly mentioned; UE 114 is always assumed to include HARQ-ACKinformation for SPS PDSCH transmission or for a DCI format indicatingSPS PDSCH release.

UE 114 can determine a number of DCI formats with associated HARQ-ACKinformation in a same PUCCH transmission based on a counter DAI fieldand a total DAI field (see also in REF 6). The counter DAI in a DCIformat transmitted in a SF is an incremental counter (modulo 4) of DCIformats up to the DCI format in the SF with associated HARQ-ACKinformation in a same PUCCH transmission. The total DAI in a DCI formattransmitted in a SF is a total counter (modulo 4) of DCI formats up tothe SF with associated HARQ-ACK information in a same PUCCHtransmission.

In a first example for a FDD system, a method for providing TPC commandsto UE 114 for adjusting a power of a PUCCH format transmission candepend on a number of DCI formats transmitted to the UE in a SF.

In a first method, a process for determining a TPC command to adjust apower of a PUCCH format transmission and for determining a PUCCHresource for the PUCCH format transmission depends on a number oftransmitted DCI formats by eNB 102 or identified DCI formats by UE 114.For a FDD system, when eNB 102 transmits a first number of DCI formatsscheduling respective PDSCH transmissions in a first number of cells toUE 114, eNB 102 can use the TPC command field to provide a TPC commandonly in a DCI format for a primary cell and use the TPC command field inany DCI format for a respective secondary cell to provide an ARI for aPUCCH resource determination to UE 114. When, through a total DAI field,UE 114 determines (but not necessarily detects) a first number of DCIformats for a first number of cells, UE 114 can use a TPC command fieldonly in a DCI format for a primary cell to obtain TPC command for aPUCCH transmission conveying HARQ-ACK and use a TPC command field in anyDCI format for a respective secondary cell to obtain ARI for a PUCCHresource determination. When eNB 102 transmits a second number of DCIformats for a second number of cells, eNB 102 can use a TPC commandfield in a DCI format for a primary cell and in one or more DCI formatsfor respective one or more secondary cells to provide a TPC command anduse a TPC command field in remaining DCI formats for respectivesecondary cells to provide ARI for a PUCCH resource determination to UE114. When, through a total DAI field, UE 114 determines (but notnecessarily detects) a second number of DCI formats for a second numberof respective cells, UE 114 can use each respective TPC command field ina DCI format for a primary cell and in one or more DCI formats forrespective secondary cells to obtain TPC command and use a TPC commandfield in each remaining DCI formats for respective secondary cells toobtain ARI for a PUCCH resource determination.

FIG. 10 illustrates a use of a TPC command field in a DCI formatdepending on a number of DCI formats an eNB transmits to a UE accordingto this disclosure.

The eNB 102 transmits to UE 114 a first number D₁ of DCI formatsscheduling respective PDSCH transmissions in respective cells in a SF1010. UE 114 determines transmission of a second number D₂ of DCIformats scheduling PDSCHs in respective cells in the SF 1020. In absenceof operating errors (DCI format detection errors), D₁=D₂. The secondnumber of DCI formats that UE 114 determines that eNB 102 transmits toUE 114 in the SF is not necessarily same as a number of DCI formats UE114 detects in the SF as, based on a use of a total DAI field, UE 114can determine transmission of DCI formats that UE 114 failed to detect.The eNB 102 examines whether D₁ is larger than a first predeterminednumber D_(R1) of DCI formats 1030. UE 114 examines whether D₂ is largerthan a second predetermined number D_(R2) of DCI formats 1040. WhenD₁>D_(R1), eNB 102 provides TPC command in the TPC command field of atleast one DCI format for a secondary cell 1050. When D₂>D_(R2), UE 114processes as a TPC command a value of a TPC command field of at leastone DCI format for a secondary cell 1060. When D₁≤D_(R1), eNB 102provides only ARI in the TPC command field of each DCI format for asecondary cell 1070. When D₂≤D_(R2), UE 114 processes only as ARI avalue of the TPC command field of each DCI format for a secondary cell1080.

In a second method, a process for determining a TPC command to adjust apower of a PUCCH format transmission and for determining a PUCCHresource for the PUCCH format transmission depends on the associatedPUCCH format. For example, when UE 114 uses a first PUCCH format totransmit HARQ-ACK information, such as a PUCCH format 3 withtransmission in one PRB pair, UE 114 can obtain a TPC command foradjusting a transmission power for the first PUCCH format only from theTPC command field in a DCI format for the primary cell and obtain an ARIfor determining a resource for the first PUCCH format transmission fromthe TPC command field for any DCI format for a respective secondarycell. When UE 114 uses a second PUCCH format to transmit HARQ-ACKinformation, such as a PUCCH format with a PUSCH-based structure, UE 114can obtain a TPC command for adjusting a transmission power for thesecond PUCCH format from the TPC command field in a DCI format for theprimary cell and from the TPC command filed in some DCI formats forrespective secondary cells and obtain an ARI for determining a resourcefor the second PUCCH format transmissions from the TPC command field inother DCI formats for respective secondary cells. A correspondingfunctionality can apply for eNB 102.

FIG. 11 illustrates a use a TPC command field in a DCI format accordingto a PUCCH format used by a UE to transmit HARQ-ACK informationaccording to this disclosure.

UE 114 determines a PUCCH format to use for HARQ-ACK transmission 1110.For example, the PUCCH format can be PUCCH format 3 with transmission inone PRB pair, or a PUCCH format based on the PUSCH structure. UE 114determines whether the PUCCH format is a first PUCCH format, such asPUCCH format 3 with transmission in one PRB pair 1120. When the PUCCHformat is the first PUCCH format, UE 114 uses a first method to obtain aTPC command and ARI 1130. When the PUCCH format is a second PUCCHformat, UE 114 uses a second method to obtain a TPC command and ARI1140. Similar steps apply when UE 114 considers whether a determinednumber of DCI formats scheduling PDSCH transmissions in respective cellsis larger than a first number and when so, UE 114 uses a first method toobtain a TPC command and ARI; otherwise, UE 114 uses a second method toobtain a TPC command and ARI.

Different UL power control processes can be associated with respectivedifferent PUCCH formats and a TPC command for a transmission of a PUCCHformat can either apply to a respective UL PC process or be common forall UL power control processes.

In case TPC commands or ARI is provided by one or more DCI formats forrespective one or more secondary cells, several approaches can apply fora selection of the one or more DCI formats.

In a first approach, DCI formats can alternate in providing TPC commandsor ARI where an ordering can be in an ascending order of a cell indexwith a respective PDSCH transmission. For example, when four DCI formatsschedule respective four PDSCH transmissions in cells with indexes c₁,c₂, c₃, and c₄ where c₁<c₂<c₃<c₄, a TPC command field in DCI formats forcells with indexes c₁ and c₃ can provide TPC commands while a TPCcommand field in DCI formats scheduling PDSCH transmissions in cellswith indexes c₂ and c₄ can provide ARI. The first approach can bebeneficial when cell indexing is such that UE 114 can experience similarchannel conditions in cells with successive indexes, such as for examplea similar propagation loss, a similar interference, or a similaravailability of cells for PDSCH transmissions. Then, by alternating cellindexes where a TPC command field in a respective DCI format provides anactual TPC command or an ARI, a likelihood that UE 114 can detect atleast two DCI formats providing a TPC command and an ARI, respectively,can increase.

In a second approach, when N_(c) DCI formats are transmitted by eNB 102or determined by UE 114 for scheduling PDSCH transmissions in respectiveN_(c) cells, a first number of DCI formats, such as for example thefirst ┌N_(c)/2┐ (or └N_(c)/2┘) DCI formats or the first 4 DCI formats,after the first DCI format, can provide ARI and remaining DCI formats,such as the last └N_(c)/2┘ (or ┌N_(c)/2┐) DCI formats or the N_(c)−4 DCIformats (when N_(c)>4), respectively, can provide TPC commands where ┌ ┐is a ceiling function rounding a number to the smallest integer that islarger than the number and └ ┘ is a floor function rounding a number tothe largest integer that is smaller than the number. Both approaches canbe conditioned on a TPC command field in a DCI format for the primarycell to provide a TPC command (instead of ARI).

By using the second approach when a number of DCI formats (transmittedby eNB 102 and determined by UE 114) is large, so that for example UE114 uses a second PUCCH format associated with transmission of DCIformats for a large number of cells, even when UE 114 fails to detectsome DCI formats, a probability that UE 114 fails to detect all DCIformats providing TPC commands or all DCI formats providing ARI can besufficiently lower than a probability of incorrect HARQ-ACK detection.Moreover, any approach can be conditioned so that a DCI format for aprimary cell provides a TPC command for the PUCCH format transmission.Therefore, the application of the first method or the second method canalso be associated with a use of a first PUCCH format or of a secondPUCCH format, respectively.

FIG. 12 illustrates a mechanism for providing a TPC command and an ARIfor a PUCCH transmission conveying HARQ-ACK information according tothis disclosure.

UE 114 configured for CA operation detects first one or more DCI formatsthat schedule respective PDSCH transmissions in a first set of cells andsecond one or more DCI formats that schedule respective PDSCHtransmissions in a second set of cells 1210. UE 114 determines a TPCcommand from TPC command field in the first one or more DCI formats andan ARI from a TPC command field in the second one or more DCI formats1220. UE 114 transmits a PUCCH format conveying HARQ-ACK information byusing the TPC command to adjust a transmission power and the ARI todetermine a PUCCH resource 1230. Similar, eNB 102 transmits third one ormore DCI formats that schedule PDSCH in a first set of cells and fourthone or more DCI format that schedule PDSCH in a second set of cells. TheeNB 102 provides TPC command in the TPC command field in the first oneor more DCI formats and ARI in the TPC command field in the second oneor more DCI formats. The first one or more DCI formats or the third oneor more DCI formats include at least one DCI format scheduling arespective at least one PDSCH transmission in respective at least onesecondary cell.

In a second example, a TPC command field can always be used to provideTPC commands and an additional field can be included to provide ARI. ForDCI formats transmitted by PDCCH, this additional field needs to beintroduced as a new field. For DCI formats transmitted by EPDCCH, thisadditional field can be the HRO field when a DCI format schedules aPDSCH transmission in a secondary cell. Then, instead of the HRO fieldvalue being set to zero as for conventional operation (see also REF 3),the HRO field is used as an ARI field.

Any of the two examples can also apply for a TDD system with anadditional condition that applicability extends in every SF of abundling window where eNB 102 transmits DCI formats to UE 114. For thefirst method, in order to account for a likelihood that UE 114experiences correlated channel conditions in SFs of a same bundlingwindow and a likelihood that UE 114 is scheduled PDSCH transmissions ina same cell in multiple SFs of a same bundling window, a DCI formatassociation for a TPC command field to a TPC command or to an ARI canalternate between successive SFs of a same bundling window. A primarycell can be excluded from this alternate association. For example, forthe first approach, a TPC command field in a first, third, fifth, and soon, DCI formats can provide a TPC command and a TPC command field in asecond, fourth, sixth, and so on DCI formats can provide an ARI in afirst SF and the association can be reversed in a second SF of a samebundling window. Moreover, UE 114 can accumulate TPC commands in SFs ofa bundling window having a number of M_(w) SFs. When δ_(PUCCH)(j) is aTPC command value in DCI formats for applicable cells in SF j, j=0, 1, .. . , M_(W)−1, UE 114 can compute a final TPC command for adjusting aPUCCH transmission power as

$\sum\limits_{j = 0}^{M_{w} - 1}{{\delta_{PUCCH}(j)}.}$This can provide more accurate power control, particularly inassociation with a PUCCH format used for transmission of large HARQ-ACKpayloads.

For a TDD system, the eNB 102 scheduler cannot be generally assumed tobe capable of predicting scheduling decisions for PDSCH transmissions toUE 114 in future SFs of a same bundling window. Consequently, when UE114 selects a PUCCH format according to a respective HARQ-ACKinformation payload, the eNB 102 scheduler cannot be generally assumedto know the PUCCH format at the first SF of the bundling window becausethe eNB 102 scheduler cannot know, in general, the HARQ-ACK informationpayload after the last SF of the bundling window. For example, when eNB102 schedules PDSCH transmissions to UE 114 only in the first SF of abundling window, UE 114 uses a first PUCCH format such as PUCCH format3, while when 102 eNB schedules PDSCH transmissions to UE 114 in all SFsof the bundling window, UE 114 uses a second PUCCH format such as aPUCCH format having a PUSCH-based structure, for example as in FIG. 4.For a FDD system, unlike a TDD system, an eNB 102 scheduler knows anumber of cells with PDSCH transmissions in a SF and can set an ARIvalue to either indicate a resource for a PUCCH format 3 when acorresponding HARQ-ACK payload is O_(HARQ-ACK)≤22 bits or indicate aresource for a PUSCH-based PUCCH format when a corresponding HARQ-ACKpayload is O_(HARQ-ACK)>22 bits.

In order to enable eNB 102 and UE 114 to have a same understanding of aPUCCH resource for a transmission of a PUCCH format, an ARI value in aDCI format transmitted in a SF of a bundling window can indicate aresource for a PUCCH format that UE 114 would use in response to PDSCHreceptions in previous SFs, when any, of the bundling window and in theSF of the bundling window. Therefore, the ARI value can depend on the SFof a respective DCI format transmission and can be different in DCIformats transmitted in different SFs of a bundling window. For example,a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH transmission in a first SF of a bundlingwindow indicates (through a value of a TPC command field when it servesas an ARI field) a PUCCH resource for a first PUCCH format, such asPUCCH format 3, while a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH transmission in alast SF of the bundling window indicates a PUCCH resource for a secondPUCCH format, such as a PUCCH format 4 having a PUSCH-based structure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a determination by an eNB and by a UE of a PUCCHresource indicated by an ARI value in a DCI format transmitted in a SFof a bundling window according to this disclosure.

In a SF, eNB 102 (or UE 114) determines a HARQ-ACK information payloadbased on transmitted DCI formats in SFs of a bundling window up to theSF 1310. The eNB 102 (or UE 114) determines whether the HARQ-ACKinformation payload is associated with use of a first PUCCH format or ofa second PUCCH format 1320. When the first PUCCH format is used, an ARIvalue in a DCI format transmitted in SF 1310 indicates a resource forthe first PUCCH format transmission 1330. When the second PUCCH formatis used, the ARI value in the DCI format transmitted in SF 1310indicates a resource for the second PUCCH format transmission 1340.

When UE 114 transmits PUCCH on the primary cell for UCI corresponding toa first group of DL cells and transmits PUCCH on a primary secondarycell for UCI corresponding to a second group of DL cells, the firstembodiment separately applies for the first group of DL cells and theprimary cell and for the second group of DL cells and the primarysecondary cell.

PUCCH Transmission Power Control

A second embodiment of this disclosure considers a power controlmechanism for a PUCCH transmission. Unlike PUCCH formats supported forCA with up to 5 DL cells (see also REF 1 and REF 3) where PUCCHtransmission is always over one PRB pair, PUCCH transmission for CA withmore than 5 DL cells can be in more than one PRB pair.

For HARQ-ACK transmission in a PUCCH, UE 114 can derive a PUCCHtransmission power P_(PUCCH,c)(i), in decibels per milliwatt (dBm), incell c (primary cell or primary secondary cell) and SF i as in Equation3):

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{{PUCCH},c}(i)} = {\min{\begin{Bmatrix}{{P_{{CMAX},c}(i)},} \\{{10{\log_{10}\left( {M_{{PUCCH},c}(i)} \right)}} + {P_{{O\;\_\;{PUCCH}},c}(u)} +} \\{{PL}_{c} + {\Delta_{{TF},c}(i)} + {\Delta_{TxD}(u)} + {g_{c}(i)}}\end{Bmatrix}\lbrack{dBm}\rbrack}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$or equivalently, using a Δ_(F_PUCCH)(F) offset relative to PUCCH format1a as in Equation 2 for a PUCCH transmission power, as in Equation 3a:

$\begin{matrix}{{P_{{PUCCH},c}(i)} = {\min{\begin{Bmatrix}{{P_{{CMAX},c}(i)},} \\{{10{\log_{10}\left( {M_{{PUCCH},c}(i)} \right)}} + {P_{{O\;\_\;{PUCCH}},c}(u)} +} \\{{PL}_{c} + {\Delta_{{TF},c}(i)} + {\Delta_{F\;\_\;{PUCCH}}(F)} + {\Delta_{TxD}(u)} + {g_{c}(i)}}\end{Bmatrix}\lbrack{dBm}\rbrack}}} & \left( {3a} \right)\end{matrix}$where,

-   -   P_(CMAX,c)(i) is a configured UE 114 transmission power in cell        c and SF i,    -   M_(PUCCH,c)(i) is a PUCCH transmission BW in RBs in cell c and        SF i,    -   P_(O_PUCCH,c)(u) controls a mean received SINK at eNB 102 in        cell c and is a sum of a cell-specific component        P_(O_NOMINAL_PUCCH)(u) and a UE-specific component        P_(O_UE_PUCCH)(u) configured to UE 114 by eNB 102 through higher        layer signaling. For a PUCCH transmission conveying HARQ-ACK,        u=0. For a PUCCH transmission conveying P-CSI, u=1. For a PUCCH        transmission conveying both HARQ-ACK and P-CSI, a larger of the        two P_(O_NOMINAL_PUCCH)(u) values applies in order to ensure the        smaller target BLER between HARQ-ACK BLER and P-CSI BLER for the        joint HARQ-ACK and P-CSI transmission. SR transmission can be        incorporated without additional changes. When a same target BLER        applies by default for HARQ-ACK and P-CSI in a system operation        (that is, different P_(O_PUCCH,c)(u) values for HARQ-ACK and        P-CSI are not configured to UE 114 by eNB 102), a dependence of        P_(O_PUCCH,c)(u) on UCI type is not needed (the index u can be        omitted).    -   PL_(c) is a PL estimate measured by UE 114 for cell c.    -   Δ_(F_PUCCH)(F) is provided to UE 114 by higher layers and its        value depends on a respective PUCCH format (F) to offset a        transmission power relative to PUCCH format 1a.    -   Δ_(TF,c)(i) is determined as Δ_(TF,c)(i)=10 log₁₀(2^(BPRE·K)        ^(s) −1) where BPRE=O_(UCI)/N_(RE), O_(UCI) is a number of UCI        bits including CRC bits, and N_(RE)=M_(sc) ^(PUCCH)·N_(symb)        ^(PUCCH). In a first example, K_(s) is configured to UE 114 by        higher layer signaling as either K_(s)=0 or K_(s)=1.25. In a        second example, the value of K_(s) is set by the specification        of the system operation as K_(s)=1.25 in order to adjust a PUCCH        transmission power according to a UCI payload.    -   for the current PUCCH power control adjustment state, g_(c)(i):

${g_{c}(i)} = {{g_{c}\left( {i - 1} \right)} + {\sum\limits_{m = 0}^{M - 1}{\delta_{{PUCCH},c}\left( {i - k_{m}} \right)}}}$

-   -   where g(0) is the first value after reset, δ_(PUCCH,c) is the        TPC command signaled to UE 114 in a DL DCI format scheduling        PDSCH, such as the (first, in case of a TDD system) DCI format        scheduling PDSCH on the primary cell or a DCI format 3/3A, and        the definition of M and k_(m) is as in REF 3.    -   Δ_(TxD)(u) is equal to 0 when UE 114 transmits a PUCCH from a        single antenna port and ΔTxD(u)>0 when UE 114 is configured by        eNB 102 to transmit a PUCCH using transmitter antenna diversity        (TxD). A negative Δ_(TxD) (u) value captures a BLER gain due to        transmitter antenna diversity. When UE 114 is independently        configured TxD for HARQ-ACK transmission and for P-CSI        transmission, Δ_(TxD)(u) can be different for HARQ-ACK        transmission (captured by u=0) and for P-CSI transmission        (captured by u=1). For a PUCCH transmission conveying both        HARQ-ACK and P-CSI, TxD can be used. When UE 114 is jointly        configured TxD for HARQ-ACK transmission and for P-CSI        transmission, a dependence of Δ_(TxD)(u) on UCI type is not        needed (the index u can be omitted).        HARQ-ACK Information Codeword Detection at an eNB Receiver

A third embodiment of this disclosure considers a detection procedure ofa HARQ-ACK information codeword at eNB 102 when UE 114 encodes theHARQ-ACK codeword using TBCC.

An HARQ-ACK information codeword can include HARQ-ACK values that areknown to eNB 102. For example, when a cell-domain total DAI is not usedto indicate cells with PDSCH transmissions to UE 114 from eNB 102 in aFDD system for determining an HARQ-ACK payload, UE 114 can includeHARQ-ACK information for all configured cells in a HARQ-ACK informationcodeword. For cells where eNB 102 does not transmit a PDSCH to UE 114,eNB 102 can expect that a respective HARQ-ACK value in the HARQ-ACKinformation codeword is a NACK/DTX value. For example, for a TDD system,when UE 114 provides HARQ-ACK information for PDSCH transmissions in acell for every SF in a bundling window, eNB 102 can expect that in a SFwhere eNB 102 does not transmit PDSCH to UE 114, a respective HARQ-ACKvalue in the HARQ-ACK information codeword is a NACK/DTX value. ANACK/DTX value can be represented, for example, by a binary ‘0’ while anACK value can be represented by a binary ‘1’.

When UE 114 uses TBCC for a HARQ-ACK information codeword, a TBCCdecoder at eNB 102 can maintain a number of paths through a trelliswhere the paths can be selected according to respective likelihoodmetrics. A path with a largest likelihood metric can be discarded(respective branch in a trellis is pruned) when a resulting HARQ-ACKinformation codeword contains different values for HARQ-ACK informationthat is known in advance to eNB 102, the path with the next largestlikelihood metric can be selected, and so on, until a resulting decodedHARQ-ACK information codeword contains same values for HARQ-ACKinformation as the ones that are known in advance to eNB 102. Forexample, considering for simplicity a HARQ-ACK information codeword of 5bits (although in practice convolutional encoding applies to HARQ-ACKcodewords of significantly larger size, such as above 22 bits), whereeNB 102 expects a fourth bit to have a value of ‘0’, eNB 102 can discarda decoded codeword of ‘x1, x2, x3, 1, x5’ even when this codeword has alargest likelihood metric and instead select a codeword of ‘y1, y2, y3,0, y5’ that has a largest likelihood metric among codewords having a ‘0’binary value for their fourth element.

FIG. 14 illustrates a decoding process at an eNB for a TBCC encodedHARQ-ACK information codeword according to this disclosure.

The eNB 102 determines known values in a received, TBCC encoded,HARQ-ACK codeword 1410 that is transmitted by UE 114 in response toreceptions of PDSCH transmissions. For example, a known value can be abinary ‘0’ at a position corresponding to a cell where eNB 102 does nottransmit PDSCH in a SF. A TBCC decoder at eNB 102 decodes the TBCCencoded HARQ-ACK codeword and maintains a number of paths through adecoding trellis and respective likelihood metrics 1420. The number ofpaths can depend on the eNB 102 decoder implementation. The eNB 102determines whether or not a HARQ-ACK codeword corresponding to a pathwith a largest metric is verified 1430. Verification can be bydetermining whether or not the known values for a candidate HARQ-ACKcodeword corresponding to the path with the largest metric are same withthe values of the decoded HARQ-ACK codeword at respective predeterminedlocations that can correspond, for example, to cell indexes. Whenverification is positive, eNB 102 can select the candidate HARQ-ACKcodeword as the one corresponding to the path with the largest metric1440. When verification is negative, eNB 102 can discard a current pathwith a largest metric from the number of paths 1450 and then repeat step1430. Equivalently, the eNB 102 TBCC decoder can prune branches in thetrellis that correspond to a different HARQ-ACK information bit valuethan a known HARQ-ACK information bit value at a respective position inthe HARQ-ACK codeword.

FIG. 15 illustrates a path selection by a decoder using knowledge ofknown bits in a codeword according to this disclosure.

An actual HARQ-ACK codeword is “1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0” 1510. Known HARQ-ACKinformation bits are the third one and the sixth one. Using thisknowledge, a decoder prunes (discards) paths in the trellis 1520, 1530that, although have larger likelihood metrics, result to a decodedcodeword with different values for the HARQ-ACK information bits thanthe known ones. The decoder selects the path with the largest likelihoodmetric that results to a codeword with same HARQ-ACK information bitvalues as the known ones at the respective locations of the HARQ-ACKcodeword 1540.

Although the present disclosure has been described with exampleembodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications that fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiverconfigured to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)conveying a number of uplink control information (UCI) bits; and aprocessor operably connected to the transceiver, the processorconfigured to: increase a PUCCH transmission power logarithmically withthe number of UCI bits when the number of UCI bits is smaller than orequal to a predetermined threshold, and increase a PUCCH transmissionpower logarithmically with the power of 2 of the number of UCI bits whenthe number of UCI bits is larger than the predetermined threshold. 2.The UE of claim 1, wherein: when the number of UCI bits is smaller thanor equal to the predetermined threshold, the UCI bits do not includecyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits, and when the number of UCI bits islarger than the predetermined threshold, the UCI bits include cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits.
 3. The UE of claim 1, wherein: when thenumber of UCI bits is smaller than or equal to the predeterminedthreshold, the UCI bits are encoded with a first encoding method; andwhen the number of UCI bits is larger than the predetermined threshold,the UCI bits are encoded with a second encoding method.
 4. The UE ofclaim 1, wherein when the number of UCI bits is larger than thepredetermined threshold, a PUCCH transmission power adjustment isΔ_(TF)(i)=10 log₁₀(2^(BPRE·K) ^(s) −1), wherein BPRE=O_(UCI)/N_(RE),O_(UCI) is the number of UCI bits and cyclic redundancy check (CRC)bits, N_(RE) is a number of frequency domain resource elements for thePUCCH transmission, K_(s) is a constant, and log₁₀( ) is the logarithmfunction with base
 10. 5. The UE of claim 1, wherein remainingparameters used in determining the PUCCH transmission power do notdepend on the number of UCI bits.
 6. The UE of claim 1, furthercomprising: a receiver for receiving downlink control information (DCI)formats, wherein: each DCI format schedules a reception of datainformation and includes a field providing an index of a resource forthe PUCCH transmission and a field providing a power control command foradjusting the PUCCH transmission power, and the UCI bits includeacknowledgement information bits in response to the reception of datainformation scheduled by the DCI formats.
 7. The UE of claim 6, whereinthe receiver is further configured to receive a configuration for afirst set of resources and for a second set of resources, and whereinthe transmitter is further configured to transmit the PUCCH in aresource provided by the index and is from: the first set of resourceswhen the number of acknowledgement information bits is smaller than orequal to a second threshold, and the second set of resources when thenumber of acknowledgement information bits is larger than the secondthreshold.
 8. The UE of claim 7, wherein the PUCCH has a structurecorresponding to one format from multiple formats, wherein the indexfield in a first DCI format has a first value corresponding to a firstresource, wherein the index field in a second DCI format has a secondvalue corresponding to a second resource, wherein the PUCCH transmissionis in the first resource when the PUCCH has a first format, and whereinthe PUCCH transmission is in the second resource when the PUCCH has asecond format.
 9. A base station, comprising: a receiver configured toreceive a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) conveying a number ofuplink control information (UCI) bits, wherein: when the number of UCIbits is smaller than or equal to a predetermined threshold, a PUCCHreception power adjustment increases logarithmically with the number ofUCI bits, and when the number of UCI bits is larger than thepredetermined threshold, a PUCCH reception power adjustment increaseslogarithmically with a power of 2 of the number of UCI bits.
 10. Thebase station of claim 9, wherein: when the UCI bits are smaller than orequal to the predetermined threshold, the UCI bits do not include cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits, and when the UCI bits are larger than thepredetermined threshold, the UCI bits include cyclic redundancy check(CRC) bits.
 11. The base station of claim 9, wherein when the number ofUCI bits is larger than the predetermined threshold, a PUCCH receptionpower adjustment is Δ_(TF)(i)=10 log₁₀(2^(BPRE·K) ^(s) −1), whereinBPRE=O_(UCI)/N_(RE), O_(UCI) is the number of UCI bits and cyclicredundancy check (CRC) bits, N_(RE) is a number of frequency domainresource elements for the PUCCH transmission, K_(s) is a constant, andlog₁₀( ) is the logarithm function with base
 10. 12. The method of claim11, further comprising: receiving downlink control information (DCI)formats, wherein: each DCI format schedules a reception of datainformation and includes a field providing an index of a resource forthe PUCCH transmission and a field providing a power control command foradjusting the PUCCH transmission power, and the UCI bits includeacknowledgement information bits in response to the reception of datainformation scheduled by the DCI formats.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: receiving a configuration for a first set ofresources and for a second set of resources; and transmitting the PUCCHin a resource provided by the index and is from: the first set ofresources when the number of acknowledgement information bits is smallerthan or equal to a second threshold, and the second set of resourceswhen the number of acknowledgement information bits is larger than thesecond threshold.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the PUCCH has astructure corresponding to one format from multiple formats, wherein theindex field in a first DCI format has a first value corresponding to afirst resource, wherein the index field in a second DCI format has asecond value corresponding to a second resource, wherein the PUCCHtransmission is in the first resource when the PUCCH has a first format,and wherein the PUCCH transmission is in the second resource when thePUCCH has a second format.
 15. The base station of claim 9, furthercomprising a transmitter for transmitting downlink control information(DCI) formats, wherein: each DCI format schedules a transmission of datainformation and includes a field providing an index of a resource forthe PUCCH reception and a field providing a power control command foradjusting the PUCCH reception power, and the UCI bits includeacknowledgement information bits in response to the transmission of datainformation scheduled by the DCI formats.
 16. The base station of claim15, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit aconfiguration for a first set of resources and for a second set ofresources, and wherein the receiver is further configured to receive thePUCCH in a resource provided by the index and is from: the first set ofresources when the number of acknowledgement information bits is smallerthan or equal to a second threshold, and the second set of resourceswhen the number of acknowledgement information bits is larger than thesecond threshold.
 17. The base station of claim 16, wherein the PUCCHhas a structure corresponding to one format from multiple formats,wherein the index field in a first DCI format has a first valuecorresponding to a first resource, wherein the index field in a secondDCI format has a second value corresponding to a second resource,wherein the PUCCH reception is in the first resource when the PUCCH hasa first format, and wherein the PUCCH reception is in the secondresource when the PUCCH has a second format.
 18. A method, comprising:transmitting a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) conveying anumber of uplink control information (UCI) bits, wherein: when thenumber of UCI bits is smaller than or equal to a predeterminedthreshold, a PUCCH transmission power adjustment increaseslogarithmically with the number of UCI bits, and when the number of UCIbits is larger than the predetermined threshold, a PUCCH transmissionpower adjustment increases logarithmically with a power of 2 of thenumber of UCI bits.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: when the UCIbits are smaller than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the UCIbits do not include cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits, and when the UCIbits are larger than the predetermined threshold, the UCI bits includecyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinwhen the number of UCI bits is larger than the predetermined threshold,a PUCCH transmission power adjustment is Δ_(TF)(i)=10 log₁₀(2^(BPRE·K)^(s) −1), wherein BPRE=O_(UCI)/N_(RE), O_(UCI) is the number of UCI bitsand cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits, N_(RE) is a number of frequencydomain resource elements for the PUCCH transmission, K_(s) is aconstant, and log₁₀( ) is the logarithm function with base 10.